"You are a starting player. I hope you don’t get injured."

The Lotte Giants of the Korea Professional Baseball League lost three players to injuries in just a week. On the 30th of last month, during the Gocheok Kiwoom match, Jeon Min-jae, dubbed the "trade blessing," suffered a headshot from a 140 km pitch by Kiwoom pitcher Yang Ji-yul, resulting in him being excluded from the first-team roster.

After that, foreign pitcher Charlie Barnes was removed from the first-team roster due to damage to his left shoulder's scapular tendon. On the 5th, during the match against SSG, the Lotte's source of energy, "Mahuang," Hwang Seong-bin, also left the game after complaining of pain in his left hand while sliding into first base. A detailed examination revealed that the situation was somewhat serious, as he had sustained a fracture in his left metacarpal bone. Following a cross-check, a detailed rehabilitation schedule is expected to be determined. This could lead to a long-term absence. Manager Kim Tae-hyung noted before the SSG game on the 6th, "It seems the injury is serious," expressing his despair.

Hwang Seong-bin took action to survive at first base after a surprise bunt, but this had a counterproductive effect. It became a tough moment for both Lotte and Hwang Seong-bin.

Nonetheless, Lotte had to play without Hwang Seong-bin, and Yoon Dong-hee stepped in as the leadoff. Yoon Dong-hee seemed to break out of his slump from the number one spot, leading the team to a 6-0 victory with a performance of 3 at-bats, 2 hits (1 home run), 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and 1 walk, including a leadoff home run in the first and a timely hit in the third.

A new type of offensive captain has emerged, different from Hwang Seong-bin. The leadoff position is not unfamiliar to Yoon Dong-hee; he played in 67 games from the leadoff position last year, which was his most played order. He recorded a batting average of .281 (270 at-bats, 76 hits), with 5 home runs and 36 RBIs, showing a respectable record. This season marked his fourth start as the leadoff hitter.

However, Yoon Dong-hee filled in the gap left by Hwang Seong-bin in his unique way. After the game, Yoon Dong-hee emphasized, "Even if I am to play as a leadoff, I don't think shortening my swing and watching the ball a lot will necessarily lead to more on-base appearances. Anyhow, I believe I should play baseball in my style from the leadoff position. The coaching staff respects that as well." He also mentioned, "I heard I would be playing as the number one center fielder before training. I was not worried even though it’s been quite a while since I last played, as it felt familiar. I will continue to strive to show performances like today as a leadoff hitter."

He then brought up his concern for Hwang Seong-bin. Because they are close, Yoon Dong-hee has a lot of worries. Hwang Seong-bin was also at the stadium before that day's game. He said, "I came to the stadium today. I heard about the news from the hospital's examination results. And when he (Seong-bin, the older brother) feels ready, he said let’s grab a meal together."

He did not hide his concerns for Hwang Seong-bin. Conveying his thoughts on the headfirst sliding into first base, he expressed his genuine hope that his close brother would not get injured.

He stated, "Honestly, except when I was in elementary school, I haven't really done headfirst sliding into first base. But since Seong-bin is such a fast player, I think when he feels the need to survive, he instinctively does it," adding, "I don't think it is wrong. However, since Seong-bin is a starting player, it is also true that he needs to be cautious of injuries."

He continued, "I hope that after treating this injury well and returning, my brother will reduce the headfirst sliding at first base. This is a concern that comes from genuine worry for him," and added, "It would be good to survive like that, but I understand theoretically it wouldn't be much different from running standing up. Therefore, I believe there is no need to take the risk of injury. I sincerely hope that Seong-bin doesn't get injured."

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